I think a great way to judge one's mental health status is to compare now to before. For example, last year at this time, if my son's neighborhood friend came over to play- I would lose it. The screaming, the male aggression, and the overall playtime was too much for me. I was highly irritable and would hide out in the bathroom or in my bedroom, crying, until the friend left.

Now.... the friend is over. Like right now. And I am listening more contently to the same three boys play in the basement. There is screaming. I can hear the male aggression in their play. I can't say it's like soaking up rays on the beach, but I am more relaxed and remind myself that kids play loudly and that that is okay.

I have spent hours upon hours of watching Netflix's Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Will Estes, and Bridget Monyahan. It's a Law and Order type show- you get the cops and the lawyers packaged into one series. The biggest difference I have found between Blue Bloods and Law and Order is the hotness factor. The Blue Bloods cast makes me want to get out my Hitachi and 50 Shades of Grey.

Will Estes in Blue Bloods

I just want to write and write about this show, and prove to you that it is well worth the watch. But I don't want to give one thing away. IT IS THAT GOOD. Scroll down for the hot pics!

Most share the Christmas spirit through gifting. Some, through donating. My neighbors do it through lighting. The hippy in me- the one who wraps gifts in newspaper, sees all the lights and the waste. ﻿But when I free myself of complaints and judgements, I see something beautiful.﻿Yes. The lights are a beauty. But what is even more beautiful is the spirit of my neighbors. They spend countless hours setting up their lights each year. Every. Single. Year. All to open up and share the spirit of love, patience, and hope. Thank you Gahanna, for a wonderful 2014 Christmas.